Distribution of Communion: A
Privilege, Not a Right
By Fr. WIlliam Saunders
HERALD Columnist
In the reports of the pope’s recent visit
to Austria, I read comments about the use of lay people
in various ministries and how the Vatican issued a
statement concerning them. As an elderly Catholic, I have
always questioned the use of lay people helping with Holy
Communion. What is the proper use of the laity as
Eucharistic Ministers? — a reader in Alexandria
On Nov. 13, 1997, eight Vatican offices issued an
instruction with the approval of the Holy Father entitled
Some Questions Regarding Collaboration of Nonordained
Faithful in Priests’ Sacred Ministry. The
instruction addressed the role of the faithful in the
ministry of the Word, including preaching; in liturgical
celebrations, including the distribution of Holy
Communion and the conducting of a Communion Service when
a priest is absent; and in caring for the sick. Frankly,
the motivation for releasing this instruction was to
counteract certain abuses that had arisen in these areas.
Moreover, the Church wanted to present again the
distinction between the roles of the ministerial,
sacrificial priesthood of the ordained clergy and the
roles of the common priesthood shared by all the baptized
faithful.
In answering this question , we will restrict our
answer to the role of Eucharistic Ministers. Here we must
keep in mind two premises: First, the most precious gift
our Lord entrusted to His Church is the Most Holy
Eucharist, the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. The
Blessed Sacrament, as Vatican II stated, is the center
and summit of our worship as Catholic. Second, the pastor
of the parish is to insure that the Most Holy Eucharist
is truly the center of parish life and that the faithful
are nourished through a devout celebration of all the
sacraments, especially through frequent reception of the
sacraments of the Most Holy Eucharist and Penance (Canon
528, No. 2).
Given this foundation, the Sacred Congregation for the
Discipline of the Sacraments (now called the Sacred
Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship since
1975) issued on Jan. 25, 1973, the Instruction of
Facilitating Sacramental Eucharistic Communion in
Particular Circumstances. The instruction addressed
the appointment of "Extraordinary Ministers" of
the Eucharist. (Note that the "Ordinary
Ministers" of Holy Communion would be the Bishop,
Priest, and Deacon (Code of Canon Law, No. 910.1).)
Extraordinary Ministers may be used to assist the
Ordinary Ministers in the following circumstances: (1) at
Mass when the size of the congregation would
"unduly" prolong the reception of Holy
Communion (especially since the relaxation of the old
"fasting laws"); (2) when the Ordinary
Ministers would be prevented from distributing Holy
Communion by ill health, advanced age, or other pastoral
obligations; (3) when the number of sick of homebound in
various places (hospitals, nursing homes, or private
homes) requires assistance to provide for regular
reception of Holy Communion. Therefore, the Vatican
allowed bishops to appoint a "suitable person"
for a specific occasion or a period of time to assist the
Ordinary Ministers to distribute Holy Communion.
The appointment of Extraordinary Ministers of the
Eucharist and the privilege of distributing Holy
Communion is granted for the good of the faithful and for
cases of genuine necessity. These individuals should be
properly instructed and should live an exemplary
Christian life. They must show great devotion to the Holy
Eucharist and be an example of piety and reverence.
Except in rare occasions and for a particular
circumstance, a lay person must first be appointed by the
Bishop of the Diocese to act in this capacity. The Instruction
also cautions, "Let no one be chosen whose selection
may cause scandal among the faithful." In a sense,
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers ought to have an
extraordinary love for the Holy Eucharist and for the
Church, the Body of Christ.
In our diocese, a person must be mature and at least
21 years of age. The candidate must attend a workshop
offered by the Office of Sacred Liturgy. Upon
recommendation of the pastor, the bishop appoints
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist to a three-year
term, which may be renewed once. The appointment,
however, extends only to service within a particular
parish.
However, the recent instruction warns against abusing
this privilege so as to dilute the role of the
ministerial, sacrificial priest. Extraordinary ministers
are truly "extra ordinary" not
"ordinary." They may only distribute Holy
Communion in accord with the guidelines noted above.
Moreover, certain practices are to be curtailed:
Extraordinary ministers cannot give Holy Communion to
themselves or apart form the faithful as though they were
concelebrants at a Mass, and they cannot be used when
there are sufficient ordained Ordinary Ministers for the
distribution of Holy Communion.
In my own priestly ministry, I have seen the value of
having laity as Extraordinary Ministers, especially in
visiting the sick, the homebound, and those in
institutions. Because of their assistance, the faithful
can receive Holy Communion with greater regularity.
However, the service of Extraordinary Ministers does not
excuse the priest from visiting these people, especially
to provide the Sacrament of Penance and Anointing of the
Sick. Moreover, I have been edified by the devotion and
love of several Extraordinary Ministers for the Most
Blessed Sacrament. I have known several Eucharistic
Ministers who at first refused when asked to perform this
service because they felt "unworthy" — a
sign of humility. And, I have seen many faithfully
venture out in all kinds of inclement weather to visit
those parishioners in their care.
On the other hand, I have seen abuses. Several years
ago, I officiated at the wedding of my cousin, the groom.
A priest, who was from a northern diocese and was also a
friend of the bride’s family, concelebrated. The
priest thought it would be "meaningful" if the
bride and groom gave each other Holy Communion. I
refused. He said, "All the popular liturgical
magazines suggest this." I said, "Too bad the
Church doesn’t." He wanted to abuse the
privilege, and reduce a sacred privilege to something
trite.
I was once assigned to a smaller parish that had three
active priests and a deacon. There was no need for other
assistance in distributing Holy Communion at Mass.
Eucharistic Ministers did visit the local hospital and
nursing home. After Mass, a lady from Massachusetts
asked, "Why were there no lay people helping with
Communion?" After I answered, she said,
"Vatican II gave us that right," and walked
away. Vatican II did not give anyone that right. As an
ordained priest, I have no "right" to
distribute Holy Communion. It is a privilege extended by
the bishop.
Therefore, while the laity may act as Extraordinary
Ministers of the Eucharist, and indeed provide valuable
service to a parish, we must follow the norms of the
Church. The norms as stated are to insure that reverence
and protection are given to the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Fr. Saunders is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate
School of Christendom College and pastor of Queen of
Apostles Parish, both in Alexandria.
Copyright ©1998 Arlington
Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
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